Can you fit into clothes you bought 10 years ago?

[davidlpope]

Yes. I've found that a helpful nudge towards weight loss when I'm carrying around excess fat is my reluctance to buy a new wardrobe.

Since I'm a Venn Diagram fan...



I wonder if there is significant overlap between those who think:

1. High quality clothing represents a good value.
2. One should maintain one's "normal adult weight" (~at age 25, age 30?) throughout one's life.

[Chas]

Put me down as a C. My weight tends to pendulum. Nothing becomes unwearable, just uncomfortable. When that happens, I take a bit more exercise and reduce my intake. But both, only a little bit. Gradually, uncomfortable becomes comfortable again.

Regards

Chas

[MacLowlife]

I am still wearing shirts I bought 25-30 years ago. Some of them fit better than others. I think one had better count on changing sizes at least until age 30, particularly if one goes to college and professional school, then enters a long career of sitting down, or expects to.

Much of fit depends on which garment you are checking. Dress shirts have room for expansion at many points, other than the neck and arms. I suspect there are those who need more circumference at the biceps, but not most of us. Trousers have a way of slipping below the expanding girth. Waistcoats and jackets are the ones that will tell on you- and kilts worn at a consistent traditional height.

I will be 54 soon. Can most XMarkers of a similar age cite a period of gradual growth, followed by a period of serious reduction, or am I being optimistic?

ALLAN, I have just read your summary. One more factor to consider is that good clothes are more readily altered than cheap ones. The average person's weight gain seems to be in the neighborhood of 5-20 pounds, which can frequently be accommodated by a good tailor. I vote for the best quality you can afford, a serious period of reflection before making an investment that costs more than you earn in a week, and some kind of sensible limit on how many garments you buy in a year, particularly a year in which your size may vary.*

Think about this: If clothing really is "an investment" it ought to be treated like any other investment. Do not go too heavily in any one direction and do not risk your money without research. AND take care and protect it against moths.


* I realize this flies in the face of many members' kilt acquisition strategies, but it might save a few entries in the want ads later on.

[Alan H]

I think that's pretty sound advice, MacLowlife....

[Jimmy of Perth]

I wonder if there is significant overlap between those who think:

1. High quality clothing represents a good value.
2. One should maintain one's "normal adult weight" (~at age 25, age 30?) throughout one's life.

Maybe
For one, I am a 1 & 2 (although I'm not sure "normal adult weight" should be calculated as ones weight at a specific age)